If you have pain in or around a tooth, you might be able to treat it at home. Practicing good dental hygiene habits is the best way to avoid tooth problems. This includes a healthy diet and regular dental visits. But some severe toothaches won’t get better on their own and will need to be treated by a dentist. Dr. Brian Valle offers toothache relief in Millersville MD.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us as soon as possible if you are suffering any of the following symptoms:
- Toothache that is persistent, acute, severe, or throbbing.
- Swelling or soreness around the tooth or in the gums.
- When you put pressure on your teeth, it causes pain.
- Fever.
- Chills.
- Earache.
- Experiencing jaw or ear pain?
- Pain or tightness in the chest.
- Opening your mouth, speaking, or eating is painful.
- Bleeding from a tooth or gum.
These signs and symptoms could indicate a minor dental problem or something worse.
What Causes My Toothache?
Various factors can cause toothache. Dr. Valle can help you figure out what’s causing it. The following are some of the most common toothache causes:
- Tooth decay.
- An abscessed or infected tooth.
- When a tooth cracks or breaks.
- Chipped or broken fillings.
- Grinding your teeth or chewing incorrectly.
- Gum disease.
- Food or plaque between the teeth.
- Sensitivity to hot or cold foods or beverages.
How Can I Relieve My Toothache?
Until you get the professional treatment you need, each of these treatments may help you manage pain depending on what’s causing the toothache. For example, brushing with desensitizing toothpaste may not help if you have a tooth infection.
Brush with desensitizing toothpaste.
Various factors can cause sensitive teeth, sometimes by gums that have receded, exposing some tooth roots. You can use over-the-counter toothpaste to help reduce tooth sensitivity.
Rinse with warm salt water or antiseptic mouthwash.
Rinsing can help remove debris between your teeth, sanitize your mouth, and reduce inflammation. Rinse for a good 30 seconds, then spit.
Take a pain reliever.
Check with your doctor or dentist, and check usage labels with any pain-reliever or anti-inflammatory. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen are common over-the-counter drugs you can take to relieve toothache. If you take aspirin, don’t rub it against the gums is it can burn gum material. Only take it orally.
Apply a hot and cold compress to the affected area.
Apply a warm, moist towel or compress to the exterior of the hurting area for five minutes. Follow up with a cold compress to the same area of your face until it feels numb. Do this repeatedly until you feel better.
Keep your head elevated
When you lie down, more blood flows toward your head. If you have a toothache, this increases pressure and sensitivity in the area. Try propping your head up on a few pillows when going to sleep.
Clean and floss around the painful area.
You may have an infection, which a dentist should treat. However, sometimes you can eliminate a toothache with some gentle cleaning.
How Can Dr. Brian D. Valle, P.A. Treat My Toothache?
Depending on your situation, we can treat your tooth discomfort in various ways. We’ll begin by reviewing your medical history and doing an assessment. We’ll check for the source of the pain and any other dental abnormalities that need to be addressed.
Sometimes we can treat toothache by cleaning around the tooth or reducing inflammation. Sometimes it’s as easy as removing a bit of popcorn kernel from between your teeth. Treatment might be more complex, such as prescribing antibiotics to eliminate an infection.
We can remove the decayed material and place it with a dental filling if you have a cavity. If your tooth decay affects the tooth’s internal portion, we can apply root canal therapy to disinfect and strengthen the area.
If all else fails, we can extract a damaged or unhealthy tooth and help you look into replacement options. Dentures, crowns, or implants commonly replace a tooth and maintain dental health.
The Right Way to Toothache Relief in Millersville, MD
Let us determine your toothache cause and recommend how to treat it. We’ll ensure it doesn’t come back, reducing the chances that you’ll need to come back to our office for more treatment.
If you’re experiencing pain, don’t wait. Call us to set an appointment. We’ll restore that tooth to health as quickly as possible.